In most other cars I’ve driven, I get a few seconds of radio static as I pass under high-voltage power distribution line crossings, but this only occurs on misty or rainy days. No problem on other days.

With my 97 VDP on ALL days, the static starts and ends farther away from the lines, so the duration of the noise is much longer, louder, and more annoying. And on misty/rainy days, it is SO sensitive to the problem that it occurs constantly while I’m driving parallel to high-voltage lines (not a crossing).

Is this a known/typical problem?
Is this one of things we learn to live with, or is something wrong with my radio that could maybe be fixed?

By the way, I don’t want to install an aftermarket radio.

Any suggestions? Thanks!

 

Could be your antenna cable has a bad connection so the radio signal is too weak and overcome by the power lines. You could try taking it to a radio expert. Interference generated from in-car parts is normally dealt with by a capacitor connected to the supply to the component with the cpacitor body earthed (grounded). One can spend a happy hour or two trying to see where the interference comes from, but in your case it is very clear !!

PS I'm no expert on this, so others may help you better